In Service of the Duke: The 15th Century Fighting Treatise of Paulus Kal

Writing in the mid-15th century, Master Paulus Kal was the agent, confidante and fencing master to the powerful Duke of Ludwig IX of Bavaria-Landshut. In his fencing book, prepared for this ducal patron, he presented standard and variant techniques in the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer, in beautifully rendered and highly detailed illuminations of figures wielding the sword, sword and buckler, dagger, messer (falchion), spear, and poleaxe, plus mounted combat. This English translation is p…